Mr. Speaker, there must be some significant disconnect between the commitment of the government and what the chief of the defence staff is saying now about the irrelevancy of our military because they do not have the tools to do the job.
On the issue of personnel, on the HMCS Calgary its combat teams and officers have spent 47 out of the last 52 weeks in the theatre away from their families. This is hurting them and it is hurting their families. They are utterly burned out.
Will the minister and the government commit to a 20% increase in manpower for our military today?